Art Bell

His successor George Noory is a lot more political and sometimes annoying.

I listened to a recording of the panicking guy who said he was calling from Area 51. I didn't find it credible. I forgot one phrase the guy kept saying but it didn't make sense to say it if you were in fear for your life. Instead, It was like a radio play.

I can't listen to the show anymore.

Way too political and Noory always starts off with, "We are not endorsing any candidate or trying to persuade your vote..." and then the show is nothing but Hillary bashing.

Stopped after Noory came on. Gave him a try but he entertained too many fools and is a horrible interviewer.

Is this a wackadoodle conspiracy theorist program?

I would listen to this show on my Walkman radio as a kid after lights out. The bumper music was great but I didn't really believe the guests. It was weirdly comforting though, like drifting off to old episodes of Murder, She Wrote.

Way too many commercials, on too late, and too much nonsense mixed in.

It sucks now. There are far superior paranormal podcasts if that's what you're after.

Like r6, I discovered Art as a kid, listening to my Walkman when I should have been sleeping. I'd always been interested in sci-fi and speculative stuff, so the show was right up my alley then, even though it was clear that some guests were just nut jobs. It was still fun to hear that kind of stuff discussed in a serious way.

Art is truly a great interviewer, and he made it clear when he thought a guest was full of crap - he wasn't afraid to challenge them. I listened on and off for years but finally got creeped out after Art's wife Ramona died and he remarried within three months to some Filipina mail-order bride barely out of her teens. Ick.

Under George Noory, the show has become a mega-politicized right-wing shitfest full of the lowest, dirtiest, most paranoid wingnuts who despise anything liberal. And George is truly an awful interviewer. It's unlistenable now except when George Knapp or some of the other guest hosts fill in.

I like Dave Schrader and his own show is really good. I also really liked Ian Punnett.

Bell has a great radio voice and a natural talent for what he did.

R8, or anybody really, can you recommend some good alternatives to C2C? Like some of you have said, I'm just about fed up with Noory and his right-wing tendencies.

When it comes to spreading conspiracy theories and misinformation this show has done more damage than Rush Limbaugh and Fox News put together.

Very intriguing show, I listen to it every night.

The bumper music 🎶 is the best part of the show.

I LOVED to listen to Art way back! Remember the guy that would pretend he could remote view Jesus & Hitler? It was all so weird and fun. Something horrible happened to his son.. he was raped or molested?? Anyone know what actually happened? Art seemed to jump the shark around that time. I gave up on the program about that time.. but it was great fun to keep you awake when driving through the night. I too loved the music and Art's wonderful interviews.

Every guest had a book or some other up-sell. Even as a kid I took the claims as seriously as a camp fire ghost story.

I listened at length to the show a total of maybe 50 times during the Art Bell years, when I was driving late at night or sometimes when camping out, with only a radio in our tent...spooky. Sexy "just hold me" nights could ensue.

It was, sometimes from segment to segment or caller to caller, outrageously funny, frustratingly stupid, and weirdly compelling. I always loved how he said he was broadcasting "from the High Desert" as if he was in a fortress of vague geography awaiting the alien apocalypse.

After he left (weird resons of personal security? Money issues?), the show sucked and my local station dropped it.

A very compelling interview with an obviously mentally ill, "satanic witch" (start at the 5:00 minute mark):

r12 try Darkness Radio.

The fun of it was that guests basically had to outdo one another. It's a long-running multi-hour show with close to a million listeners. The pressure is on.

[quote]or anybody really, can you recommend some good alternatives to C2C? Like some of you have said, I'm just about fed up with Noory and his right-wing tendencies.

I agree with the previous suggestion of Darkness Radio. There is The Paracast which is weekly show that focuses mostly on UFO and alien topics if those topics interest you.

Thanks for the link, OP. I'm having fun listening to some of the old shows posted there.

A show I just discovered (even tho it's been on the air for years) is The Last Podcast on the Left--they cover topics from serial killers to UFOs and Chaos Magick to creepypastas...

Loved Art Bell for years but shit got weird; his wife suddenly died he moved out of the country and married some younger girl. George Noory isn't that good especially now that he is a Trumpet. The weekend hosts are the only good things about C to C now.

Almost 25 hours of ghost stories:

thanks r24

If he hates Hills I will start listening to his show now. A breath of fresh air from all the ass-licking for her here.

I don't listen to talk radio. I am not a tin-hatted Trump supporter in Flyoveria.

Art Bell, who identifies as a socially liberal libertarian and voted for Obama twice, had been vociferously boosting Trump on Facebook this time around. Until Trump went one crazy step too far.

R30 Art is/was an incredible entertainer, but I never looked to him for political insight.

For R16: XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX SATURDAY, MAY 29, 1999 11:58:58 UTC XXXXX

ART BELL'S NIGHTMARE REVEALED: SON ASSAULTED BY HIV TEACHER

**World Exclusive** **Warning: Graphic Details**

Talkradio sensation Art Bell has been living in his personal hell world for nearly two years.

It can now be revealed that Bell's son was sexually assaulted by a school teacher that was carrying HIV.

The crime against Bell's son -- and later the son's suicide attempt -- was the reason Bell dramatically left the air last October.

Bell's son, now 18, told authorities that he was taken May 16, 1997 to Tecopa Hot Springs, California from Pahrump, Nevada, bound in chains, and was forced to commit sex acts on one of his substitute teachers, according to case intelligence.

The teacher, Brian Eugene Lepley, 34, is now serving life in prison for the attack on Art Bell's son.

Lepley befriended Bell, then 16, and his friends by bringing beer and marijuana to their parties, and then soliciting sex from them.

Arthur Bell IV told authorities that had he not been intoxicated, he never would have had sexual contact with Lepley.

Bell explained to the police that Lepley never told him that he was carrying HIV.

On Friday, Bell filed a federal lawsuit against the Nye County School District and Lepley, charging that he has suffered physical injuries, as well as severe mental and emotional distress.

"The boy's life has been completely destroyed by all of this," one well-placed source told the DRUDGE REPORT.

Talkshow host Art Bell has been living a nightmare to end all nightmares.

Last fall, this report was first to reveal that Bell had quit radio to take care of a grave family crises involving his son.

The report did not reveal the full story at that time out of respect for the family and the age of the son, then a minor.

Bell, heard on over 400 radio stations, has since returned to the airwaves in a limited capacity.

There's something "off" about the story in R32.

Agreed, R31. I've worked with student broadcasters/podcasters, and Bell is the standard of excellence I'd point to.

His act seems so effortless and deceptively simple, he seemingly has an enormous (understated) intelligence, and he may well be the best radio interviewer ever, bringing out the intrigue and entertainment of his unusual guests. Really, I can't think of anyone who comes close.

I also know he has mistakenly had relationships with sketchy people, and that has been his undoing on occasion.

R34, can you elaborate on Art's mistaken relationships with sketchy people? I'm a big fan of his, miss him.

thanks

I won't identify them by name, R35, but I can offer some insight into what happened when Art last quit the show, with some knowledge of the personalities involved.

A number of people are skeptical about Art's reports of death threats surrounding his show and gunshots at his studio and compound in Pahrump, but I'm not. I think the list of suspects would be short. One would be an apparently mentally unstable former associate. The other would be one of the amateur radio operators Art had a dispute with several years ago, which forced Art off the ham radio bands after he was repeatedly jammed and harassed. Unfortunately, while the vast majority of ham radio enthusiasts are great people, there are some genuinely crazy people associated with that hobby.

Also consider the seriously bad blood between Art, the Coast to Coast show, and Premiere, its syndicator. I see some indications Art thought Coast fans were behind it, but I think that's a red herring.

R36 It was such a slap in the face to all his supporters. He's clearly a very troubled person though regardless whether the story is true or not.

I think so too, R37, but I have empathy for the man and his situation. He obviously loves broadcasting, and he does it better than most anyone.

But it may actually be more of a love/hate situation because of the crazy people he inadvertently draws like a magnet. If there were gunshots and credible death threats, I'd probably choose to end it too. He needs to stay retired, because he hurts people when he 'un-retires'.

Was the cause of his wife's death ever made public?

R39 She had an asthma attack.

Thanks r32! I miss the ol'days of coast.. I'll listen to the ghost stories this weekend!

R41 Feel free to use this thread to talk about what you hear. Personally, I can't get enough of Harlot the Witch and Evelyn Pagilini.

11 more hours of Ghost to Ghost:

Anyone else remember Father Malachi Martin?

Ed Dames

My favorites were the Ghost Investigators Society and their EVPs. Listening at 2am, with the wind howling and trees scraping at the windows, it was very believable. I wonder what happened to them.

Art tried to come back with Dark Matter, but it failed. So much drama with Bell now.

Art Bell went off his rocker and bought a bride, no wonder he'd support Trump. Is Dark Matter gone r46?

For R46.

Bump

Art Bell and Alex Jones are filed next to each other in my brain. How are they different? I watched 30 seconds of Alex Jones ranting about something Trumpish and vile, and it actually made me vomit.

I like conspiracy theories but why are tin hatters so racist, sexist, violent and hateful?

John Titor, time traveler. oh hell yes on that one.

[quote]Art Bell and Alex Jones are filed next to each other in my brain. How are they different?

Well, for one thing, Art voted for Obama.

[quote] Any fans of him on DL? Feel free to reminisce about Coast to Coast AM here.

[quote] Any fans on DL? Truly an unsung radio genius. It's a shame he is such a diva/nut job behind the scenes.

[quote]Well, for one thing, Art voted for Obama.

Yeah that and Art seems like nutso than Alex Jones.

I am! i still listen to George Noory. I didn't know Art B was a diva.

Some of his shows freaked me out - there was one years ago on ghost voice recording,,,shudder

yes, miss this bitch.

Anyone else ever hear his interview with the satanic witch, Harlot? Do you think she was the real deal or just a fundie pretending?

R57 It was an entertaining show, but she's fake.

His replacement on his Midnight In The Desert show on Dark Matter Radio Network is slowly growing on me. Heather somebody.

[quote] Art seems like nutso than Alex Jones.

Is this in English?

Is he still living in the Philippines?

Didn't listen to Art, but two nights ago Noory had a Benedictine monk who claims Pope John Paul II is the Anti-Christ and based on the Book of Revelations, Pope Francis is here to destroy the church. The monk was gone before he could take calls from listeners.

Could Harlot/Patsy the Witch be our very own Witchie Poo?

......

There was a great world of live, late night and overnight AM radio back in the 90's. I only know because I was often driving long distance after hours in those days. It was weirdly compelling and kept me awake.

Now I expect anyone driving overnight is listening to playlists or podcasts...

Art Bell was some humorous, aggravating, eye-opening and gag-inducing shtick.

R65 Gagging?

I've only listened to about three of his podcasts, but he struck me as a very rational man who is simply open to any of the unexplainable. Whenever one of his guests said something that didn't make sense or completely seemed off-the-deep end Art would be right on it, questioning things and asking them exactly what I would have asked them if I were the interviewer. He doesn't strike me as gullible or deep on the woo-spectrum, but definitely curious about things.

I didn't listen to any more of his podcasts though because the guests I did listen to didn't seem very believable (and I sensed Art felt the same way).

R67 Is it the podcasts of his old C2C and Dreamland shows? I'd recommend the Ghost to Ghost ones.

I'm not sure which one, but I'll definitely check out the Ghost to Ghost one. I do love that stuff!

I can't imagine listening to his show alone in my car on a dark road; I'd be scared out of my mind.

Agree with others that once his wife Ramona died the show seemed like it jumped the shark. I also always thought something was missing from the story about his son being kidnapped in chains.

No Poo Shoes, we don't give a rat's ass about Art Bell, for the 370th time.

Where else outside of a psychiatric hospital would you hear this?

[quote] Where else outside of a psychiatric hospital would you hear this?

The White House

One of my favorite ways to de-stress is to get high and listen to old Ghost to Ghost marathons of C2C.

In the late 90s, I'd work night construction jobs with my dad and I have good memories of us driving home late at night, after remodeling a grocery store, and listening to Art Bell on the hours-long trip back to where we lived (stores were all built out in Eastern Oregon).

For R74

Perfect voice for late at night:

Those binges are nuts!

I've listened to some of the G2G so many times that I can do schtick of certain callers. It's a problem.

"Sir, please turn off your radio. Extinguish it. It's simply too confusing."

[quote]There was a great world of live, late night and overnight AM radio back in the 90's. I only know because I was often driving long distance after hours in those days. It was weirdly compelling and kept me awake.

[quote]Now I expect anyone driving overnight is listening to playlists or podcasts...

I got into Coast to Coast in the late 90s when I was in college. I used to take classes in the late afternoons and nights and worked the overnight shift at a motel office. I listened to Coast to Coast almost every night at work. There were times I thought the guests and topics were crazy, but it was fun to listen. The ghost/haunting and UFO related shows were my favorites. I preferred Art Bell over George Noory. I occasionally listen to Coast to Coast AM depending on the topics. The guest hosts that fill in for Noory are ok.

I think there has been definite shift of people listening to podcasts or playlists if they are long overnight drives or working overnights. My friend works overnight shifts as a hospital registration clerk. She downloads various podcasts to her phone or iPad and listens to them at work when she has downtime. A lot of podcasts zone in on a lot of material that Coast to Coast covers.

Has become very right wing.

Me love him long time.

Noory sucks. Art was a showman.

Check out Astonishing Legends. The Cackowski Intruder is my favorite. I wish they did more personal stories about hauntings. Aliens and bigfoot don't interest me.

One good podcast that covers personal haunting/ghost stories is Anything Ghost. The host gives people the option of recording their stories or they can email him the stories and then he narrates them with some music effects.

I listened to the podcast R82 linked to but there was nothing especially creepy about it-- basically it's about two siblings who had similar frightening dreams when they were teenagers. The only potentially paranormal phenomenon was a voice yelling at the girl in the basement, but it's possible that this has a non-supernatural explanation. Describing these incidents as evidence of some sort of otherworldly 'intruder' is REALLY stretching it.

What was that whole thing about AB's son getting diddled by a teacher or something, around 2006 or so? Weird, weird, weird.

Back in the late '90's I never missed a show!

I have two all-time favorites:

The episode about people who have had their cards (Tarot) read. The Tarot reader would tape record the sessions for the customers for future playback. One time, a listener called in to share an experience that had happened when they'd played back the recorded reading, a portion of which was about her deceased brother "Michael." During playback of the recording, a voice was also recorded asking, "Why is she always thinking about Michael!!!! Why is she always talking about Michael!!!"

My second favorite, which is an all-time Art Bell Classic: "The Burrito Alien"! This guy, a "doctor (PhD)," called in to share his experience of his happening upon an alien *(UFO, not domestic) in a remote forest of Washington state. Long story, short: the alien 'vaporized' the doctor's dog, so the doctor killed the alien and wrapped him up "like a burrito," took it home and stored it in his freezer for future testing. Throughout the story, which had become more and more extraordinary as it went on, it was like the guy was making it up as he was telling it. (Like Jon Lovitz's SNL character, "The Liar." "Yeah, that's it, he vaporized my dog into thin air, yeah, that's it . . . " "Yeah, that's it, I hit him over the head and rolled him up like . . . like a burrito! Yeah, that's it!"

I was even about to buy an emergency crank radio from Art Bell during the days!

For R86

All the ouija board drama.

"I will not tell that story again. It frightens me."

Well, sure, podcasts and rebroadcasts can be fun. But the thrill of the live call, lots of times unscreened in those days, was part of the fun for call-in radio on a long nighttime drive.

It's largely lost.

I loved Art's barely concealed rage at people who didn't know how to tell a story or get to the point.

"Sir, we are running short on time, is there some sort of punchline?"

I happened to tune in the first night the "time traveler" called in. Had a creepy edge to it.

I liked Bell better as a host, but found his doom-and-gloom-around-the-corner approach needlessly overwrought. Also, not an hour went by that he wasn't promoting a book he wrote, which never seemed to be any better or worse than any other counter culture tome.

Some of his explorations were genuinely thought-provoking, like the huge numbers of people reported as disappearing virtually into thin air. Also, whatever the current host, the Coast-to-Coast website remains interesting.

I always felt the story about his sudden retirement was fishy. I still feel there's a lot more there than has been reported.

As for Pahrump, a more desolate corner of Nevada is unlikely, and I've been there. Only as a drive-through, though. Depressing place.

Art had these two people from the Ghost Investigators Society (or something) on many times, and they would play recordings of EVPs. Those were genuinely creepy. Art was always totally freaked out by those,

I liked the remote viewing guy. One night he told Art he was going to remote view hell. Then he disappeared from the show.

Colonel Ed Dames? That guy was so full of shit.

R93 I do recall listening to that show! Shortly thereafter, I'd found a forum where listeners of said show were arguing amongst themselves about the authenticity of the activity. People called BS on it because there was no way in hell (haha!) a microphone with a cable that long even existed, let alone the existence of equipment able to withstand the heat of molten lava!

The Colonel's method of attempting to reach such *region* was through some type of secret "subterranean portal" he'd discovered. I think it was during the descent into the portal is when the Colonel *disappeared* from the show (!).

R95 Was the forum Bellgab? It's turned into troll central.

R95 Probably, but that was, like, 20 years ago; so my memory, you know . . .

................

Has "The Quickening" finally quickened yet?

Do you remember that witch with the gravely voice that he would have on all the time? I could never tell if she was a good witch or a bad witch.

You're talking about Evelyn Paglini, R100. I think she was supposed to be a good witch. DL would have loved her - she talked all the time about how people in Hollywood were into witchcraft and spells.

I also remember that there was a theory for a long time that she and Sylvia Browne were actually the same person (they sounded nearly identical). Paglini used to be very hard to track down online, but eventually there were more pics and info about her and it's clear that the theory was false. But I do see why people would think it was true...

In the old days, I always got a kick out of Art's short fuse and disgust when callers would deign to call using something other than hard-wired land lines. "Sir, are you on a cordless phone? Move closer to the base, please." Or "ma'am, are you using a cellular or mobile telephone? You're going to have to speak up. Loud!" And let us not forget, "please turn down your radio. PLEASE TURN YOUR RADIO DOWN!" Hilarious stuff.

In the past several years, more and more mental hospitals have closed, due to government cutbacks. Many of these folks are the callers or guests of the current Coast to Coast.

Both ladies with gravelly voices (Paglini and Browne) have been dead for years now.

All of the "Dr. Doom" Ed Dames stuff was totally ridiculous. The "killshot" from the sun that he kept putting off, remote viewing hell, etc. hilarious.

And let us not forget Mel's Hole. Art believed and was pretty into that nonsense, surprisingly.

R102, "get into that phone and yell! Project!"

"Sir, you are BREAKING UP."

"That was a good story but a terrible phone."

"I'm in Denver, Art." "Oh, you are? Then you're on the WRONG LINE!"

[quote]The "killshot" from the sun that he kept putting off

Yeah - he was on the show several times a year, and EVERY time the killshot was imminent...until the next time it was imminent. Plus he always had to hump his bogus seminars and dvds a zillion times throughout his interviews. Such a faker.

One of the most successful frauds in the history of American pop culture, which has had plenty of frauds